Indian Drops Threats Aimed at Rushdie

Hard-line Muslim cleric Syed Ahmed Bukhari on Tuesday withdrew his threats against British author Salman Rushdie, who plans to visit his native India later this year.

Bukhari threatened last month that Muslims would harass Rushdie throughout his visit. In a speech about Rushdie to thousands of followers during Friday prayers last month, Bukhari said: “The punishment for blasphemy is death.”

India was the first to ban Rushdie’s “The Satanic Verses”--the novel called blasphemous by Muslim leaders.

Bukhari withdrew his threats after a meeting with President Kocheril Raman Narayanan. Bukhari said the president had promised to discuss with the prime minister Muslim leaders’ request that Rushdie’s visa be withdrawn.